A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for Hauraki, Matamata-Piako, Western Bay of Plenty and Waipa.

A severe thunderstorm warning remains in place for Wairoa; both are valid until 12.52pm.

MetService said the thunderstorms are expected to be accompanied by torrential rain and hail.

“Torrential rain can cause surface and/or flash flooding about streams, gullies and urban areas, and make driving conditions extremely hazardous.

“Hail can cause damage to crops, orchards and vines and may make driving conditions hazardous.”The warnings come as the dreary summer weather continues for many, with a slew of severe thunderstorm watches in place across the top half of the North Island.

Thunderstorms are already occurring in parts of Bay of Plenty and were expected to become more widespread – including in Rotorua and north to Coromandel Peninsula – later this morning or during the afternoon, with a watch in place till 11pm, MetService wrote in its latest weather warnings and watches update.

Severe thunderstorm watches have also been issued for Auckland, Northland, Waikato, Waitomo, Taupō and Hawke’s Bay from noon to 7pm.

Many in the North Island are in for another day of wild weather. This image shows the situation over the North Island according to the MetService's rain radar for 4pm today. Image / MetService

Hawke’s Bay north of Napier is already under a heavy rain warning, with 90mm to 140mm expected, especially in the ranges, and 170mm possible in Wairoa District, MetService said.

The 18-hour warning ends at 3am tomorrow, but heavy rain was expected to ease south of the Wairoa District late tonight.

“Peak rates of 15 to 25 mm/h, but 25 to 40 mm/h in possible localised downpours. Thunderstorms expected today … will increase the risk of downpours.”

A 22-hour heavy rain warning for Gisborne/Tairāwhiti begins at noon today with 110 to 170mm of rain forecast to fall, especially in the ranges, MetService said.

Peak rates of 15mm to 25mm an hour were also expected, increasing to 25 to 40mm/h in possible localised downpours through to early tomorrow morning, and thunderstorms were also possible.

“Streams and rivers may rise rapidly. Surface flooding, slips, and difficult driving conditions possible”, they said of all areas under heavy rainfall warnings.

Northland and Auckland were also affected by thunderstorms that crossed the top of the country yesterday afternoon, with a Grey Lynn villa and a Mangawhai home catching fire after being struck by lightning.

Firefighters put both fires out, along with a tree set alight by a lightning strike on Auckland’s Kawau Island.

Firefighters have extinguished a fire in the roof of a home on Home Street in Grey Lynn after the residential dwelling was struck by lightning during a fast-moving weather event. 02 January 2026. New Zealand Herald photograph by Hayden Woodward.

A potential repeat today was courtesy of a low headed for the top of the country.

“Unstable conditions are expected during the afternoon as a low crosses the northern North Island and some thunderstorms are expected”, MetService said.

“For the east and south of Northland south of Kerikeri … and [for] Auckland there is a chance some of these thunderstorms will become severe this afternoon, bringing localised downpours with intensities of 25 to 40 mm per hour.”

The thunderstorms should ease early evening, but rainfall of this intensity could cause surface or flash flooding, slips and hazardous conditions for motorists, they said.

Similar thunderstorm conditions are also possible in Waikato (south of Hamilton), Waitomo, Taupō (north of Tūrangi), and in Hawke’s Bay’s Cape Kidnappers area and inland from Napier southwards this afternoon.